scDataCom Launches New "SafeCity Initiative" With Partnerships with Security Manufacturers
Local security company offers free CCTV to Savannah business community
scDataCom is launching an early release of their newest initiative, “SafeCity."
SafeCity is a community focused program dedicated to fostering the safety, revitalization and continued growth of local business corridors by implementing security and technology tools designed to protect our community in a time of crisis. High quality cameras are placed in strategic locations throughout local business corridors in order to provide as many businesses as possible clear coverage of their facilities. During the Covid-19 Health Crisis, access to this footage is free and made available to participants in order to provide peace of mind to one of our city’s most valuable resource - its community of entrepreneurs.
“This is a beta version of the system we were planning to install but things have accelerated due to the current crisis. We are in a position to implement a solution, now, that will allow businesses a way to protect and to personally keep eyes on their facilities through the duration of this shut down” says Alaina Ford, Founder of scDataCom. “Our business is considered Critical Infrastructure – we are lucky that, as of now, our trucks are still rolling. The equipment we are installing is state of the art and costs us the exact same amount sitting in inventory as it does deployed where it could do some good. My hope is that the added security brings other small businesses some level of peace of mind while they’re forced to close their doors – we have to band together to get through this.”
scDataCom has sourced an additional 15 camera systems and is seeking input from the business local community on where the systems are are best utilized. SafeCity participants benefit from scDataCom’s well established reputation of excellence and close partnerships with industry leading equipment manufacturers like Razberi Technologies.
“Razberi Technologies is happy to be a part of ScDataComs pilot to help ease local business stress during these uncertain times,” said Mike Taylor, VP of Sales. “Our best of breed security solutions give small businesses and enterprises the ability to build on a simple and secure video surveillance platform that helps future proof from uncertainty and be the watchdog when they physically or technologically are unable.”
scDataCom has been in Savannah for the past 7 years, and owner Alaina Ford lives in the Starland district, where the first SafeCity cameras will be installed. “This neighborhood has my heart”, she says. “I chose to live here because I loved the energy that all of these fun new businesses brought in, I’m lucky that some are friends and customers. And, living here, I know that there have been issues with burglary and propery damage and that it has caused some concern, especially now. I’m hopeful that SafeCity will help ease their minds.”
Based on FBI crime data, Savannah has a higher crime rate than 68% of all other Georgia towns & cities (of all sizes). In 2019, the weekly average for property crimes in Savannah was 104 reported incidents/week and the weekly average for violent crime was 23 reported incidents/week.
Studies show that surveillance programs have been especially successful in reducing the crime rate – potential criminals are much less likely to target a business if they know they are being watched and believe they are at a greater risk of apprehension. Highly visible cameras and signage are an especially effective crime reduction tool – similar programs in other cities, like Chicago, saw a 32% decrease in area crime within the first 3 months. A Detroit surveillance program, Project Greenlight, successfully decreased area crime by 40% in 2016, notably decreasing incidents of violent crime by 48%.
SafeCity camera installation will commence Monday and remote-viewing access is being granted to businesses for the next 30 days. For more information on SafeCity, or to register for access, please visit www.safecitysav.com